Material handling apparatus



I United States Patent [72] Inventor Bertram B. Reilly 872,735 12/1907Knutson 214/130 17 e" cm Road Pittsburgh Primary Examiner-Hugo O. SchulzPennsylvania 15202 Attorney-Parmelee, Utzler & Welsh [2]] App]. No.776,910 [22] Filed Nov. 19,1968 [45] Patented Nov. 24, 1970 [54]MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS AB STRACT: A material handling apparatuscomprising a 12 claims snrawing Figs delivery chute pivotally supportedat its discharge end for movement in a vertical arc and having amaterial receiving [52] US. Cl 214/130, bucket at its rear end which ispivotally supported thereon f 214/772 movement in a vertical arerelatively thereto is disclosed. [51] Int. Cl. B66c 23/00 Means areprovided f ff ti movement f the chute [50] Field of Search 214/772,Means actuated by movement f the chute holds the bucket in e 130, 131,35, 769, 773 a material retaining position when the chute is beingraised 56 R f Cited and moves the bucket from its material retainingposition to a I 1 e material discharge position as the chute reaches itsuppermost UNITED STATES PATENTS limit of movement whereupon the contentsof the bucket are 1,115,241 10/1914 Peterson 214/130 discharged into thechute.

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A r lorneys BERTRAM B. REILLY Wyn/M Patented Nov. 24, 1970 SheetAttorneys 1 MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS FIELD OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to material handling apparatus and more particularlyto charging apparatus for charging materials into a receptacle. Theinvention will here be described in most detail in association with atrench or pit-type incinerator since the apparatus according to theinvention has been particularly developed for use with suchincinerators. However, the apparatus may be used in other environmentsfor which such an apparatus would be appropriate, It might perhaps beused for the introduction of scrap or other materials into an openhearthfurnace, or the charging of scrap into a basic oxygen furnace, orperhaps in some cases, for loading trucks with bulk materials similarlyto a high-lift dump bucket.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION By way of background, it may beexplained that the trench or pit type incinerator has received favorableconsideration for burning industrial waste materials containingexplosive or highly volatile components, and for the destruction ofuseless scrap wood derived from the demolition of buildings. The trenchincinerator is essentially a refractory lined, open pit which may besunken in the ground or above ground. A row of high velocity nozzles areprovided adjacent one side of the maximum combustion temperature in theincinerator, thus avoiding cooling cycles between charges and resultingsmoking, while at the same time permitting the operator to besufficiently removed from the pit to avoid the intense heat. Also, itprovides a means of elevating the material for above grade constructionof the incinerator.

The delivery and distribution of the combustibles according to thepresent invention is accomplished from one end of the incineratorwithout requiring the insertion of the feeding apparatus into theincinerator. This permits the incinerator, if desired, to besubstantially enclosed or hooded and provided with a vent stack insteadof being completely open at the top as in the case of a conventionaltrench incinerator, which is not practical where a device such as a dumptruck or high'lift is used.

As compared to an open trench incinerator, an enclosed incineratorprovided with a stack has numerous advantages. The stack serves toconduct the combusted gases above ground level and ground level windcurrents thereby greatly increasing the comfort and safety of personnelin the vicinity of the open pit and these blow air angularly into thepit, supplying a surplus of air, and creating a swirling flame.Industrial wastes of many types can be burned in such apparatus withlittle visible smoke.

However, one difficulty with these incinerators is that many types ofindustrial waste burn with intense heat especially with the highvelocity air being supplied to the pit. While the intense heat isdesirable for eliminating smoke and fumes, the operator must let thematerial burn down to a low level before he can approach the pitcloselyenough to charge more combustible material into the pit. It iswhen the supply of combustible materials begins to get low thatobjectionable smoke is produced, becausethe intensity of the heatdiminishes and the smoke is less effectively consumed.

Another disadvantage with such incinerators arises in the manner ofcharging of combustible material therein. Generally, the charging iseffected by means of a vehicle,

either a dump truck or a high-lift, dumping the material into one end ofthe incinerator. This results in the material forming in a heap or pileat the bottom of the charging end of the incinerator and not beingdistributed as it should be for efficient burning.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the present invention provides acharging apparatus comprising a movable chute which is hinged or pivotedto a fixed support at one end adjacent the incinerator and ispropit-type incinerator;

vided with hydraulic piston and cylinder units to vary the angle ofincline of the chute through a vertical are. A charging bucket orplatform is attached to the chute at the end opposite to the hinge. Bymeans of a chain and sprocket system, the bucket is maintained in asubstantially horizontal position regardless of the incline of thechute, until the chute reaches a predetermined angle of incline at whichpoint a tripping mechanism releases spring forces causing the bucket torotate to a substantially vertical position whereupon material in thebucket is unloaded therefrom to the steeply inclined chute which directsit into the incinerator. The discharge end of the chute ispreferablycurved to redirect the material to a more nearly horizontalplane to aid in distribution of material in the incinerator withoutsubstantial exposure of the chute to the heat of the incinerator.

By reason of its construction and mode of operation, the presentinvention provides an apparatus for feeding orcharging material into anincinerator and effectively distributing it therein. The presentinvention also provides an apparatus for charging the incinerator at anytime even during periods of incinerator. The enclosing structure servesto contain sparks and burning combustibles and reduce likelihood of thembeing carried in the exiting gas stream from the incinerator. Highercombustion temperatures can be achieved due to the greater proportion ofreflected or reradiated heat within the enclosure, permitting theincineration of material having a wider range of moisture and heatcontent. Finally, the enclosure provides a greater protection of therefractory lining materials of the incinerator from unfavorable weatherconditions such as rain or snow, thus reducing the maintenance work andcost for refractory material.

A more complete understanding of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description, taken in conjunction with the embodiment ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of the chargingapparatus according to the invention illustrating the same inassociation with an open FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of theapparatus shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the chute, bucket and associatedparts in an intermediate position between raised and lowered positions;

' FIG. 3 is a transverse section taken along the line III-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view in longitudinal section of the apparatus shown in FIGS.1-3 illustrating somewhat diagramatically the operation of the apparatuswherein the chute is inclined downwardly for loading material into thebucket and then tilted upwardly through an intermediate position to asteeplyinclined position where material will slide down the chute intothe incinerator; and

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section through a modified pit incineratorprovided with a charging apparatus according to the present inventionand illustrating the modified pit incinerator enclosed or hooded andprovided with a vent stack.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawingswherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout theseveral views, 10 indicates an open pit type incinerator of the usualconstruction. The open pit incinerator per se forms no part of thepresent in-. vention but basically consists of an elongated refractorylined pit 12 which is here shown constructed above the ground level. Adoor 14 is provided at the end of the incinerator 10 to provide accessthereto for the removal of incinerated ash material. A row of highvelocity nozzles (not shown) is generally provided adjacent one side ofthe pit to blow air angularly downward into the pit to intensifycombustion and to provide a surplus of air.

A material handling apparatus or trench feeder is shown generally at 16for feeding material into the incinerator 10 wherein the operator can besufficiently removed from the pit to avoid the intense heat generatedtherein. The feeder or charging apparatus 16 comprises a delivery chutedesignated generally as 18, which as best seen in FIG. 3 is pivotallysupported adjacent its front or discharge end 20 on a first shaft 22 bybearings 24 so that it may rotate in a vertical are about thelongitudinal axis of the shaft 22. The shaft 22 is in turn supported inbearings 26 provided on fixed supports 28 which are here shown asextensions of the side walls of the incinerator 10.

At the outer or rear end 30 of the chute 18 there is a second shaft 32that is supported for rotation relative to the chute and to shaft 22 inbearings 34 carried on the chute 18. A material receiving or chargingbucket 36 is nonrotatably secured to the shaft 32 to permit the secondshaft 32 and the bucket 36 to pivot or rotate as a unit in a verticalarc with respect to the chute l8 and about the longitudinal axis of theshaft 32.

A pair of hydraulic cylinder and piston units 38 are pivotally connectedto the chute 18 at 40 and to a foundation as for example an extension atthe base of the incinerator at 42. These units 38 serve as power meansfor effecting movement of the bucket and chute as a unit in a verticalare about the longitudinal axis of the shaft 22 between a lower materialreceiving position as shown in full lines in FIG. 4 and a raiseddischarge position indicated in broken lines in the same FIGS.

As seen in FIG. 4, the bucket 36 is held or maintained ina horizontalmaterial retaining position as the chute is being raised and lowered asindicated by the dashed lines at 44 and 46; and, as the chute 18 reachesa predetermined uppermost limit of movement, where the chute will beinclined downwardly toward its discharge end 20, the bucket 36 is tiltedrelatively to the chute 18 towards a vertical material dischargeposition, as indicated at 48, to thereby discharge its load of materialinto the chute 18. To this end, means actuated by movement of the chuteare provided.

On the opposite ends of the shaft 22 there is provided a pair of firstsprocket wheels 50 and 52 which are keyed or otherwise nonrotatablysecured to the shaft 22, and on the opposite ends of the shaft 32 thereis provided a pair of second sprocket wheels 54 and 56 which arenonrotatably fixed on the shaft 32 and secured to the bucket 36 as by afastening pin at 58. All four sprocket wheels are identical in pitchdiameter and number of teeth. While I might provide a continuoussprocket chain looped around the two sprocket wheels at each side of thechute, I prefer, for economy, to provide partial sprocket chains 60which are trained around the sprocket wheels 50 and 54 and similarsections of chain 62 which are trained around the sprocket wheels 52 and56. The respective ends of the partial chains 60 and 62 are connected bycables or rigid links 64 in turnbuckles 66 which are provided toequalize the lengths of the chain and adjust the tension in the sprocketchains.

Nonrotatably secured on the end of the shaft 22 is a block 68 from whichprojects a rigid, radially extending arm member 70 which is normallyheld against downward movement by a roller abutment 72 on a strut member74 pivoted to the incinerator side extension 28. Block 68 and arm 70 areso secured to shaft 22 that the length of arm 70 is in a parallel planeto the floor of bucket 36. The arm member 70 is normally confinedagainst upward movement by a crossbar 76 constituting part ofa structure78, best shown in FIG. 3, that is adjacent the plane in which one sideof the chute swings when the chute is moving from the lower position tothe upper one. The arm member 70 and strut 74 comprise a releasablelatching means in that the strut 74 is pivotally supported to swing toand away from a position blocking movement of the 1 arm member 70 andthus rotation of a shaft 22 for the reason hereinafter explained.

There are two pairs of tension springs 77 having opposite ends with oneend of each spring being connected to the upper reach of the sprocketchains as is shown at 79 and the opposite end of each spring is anchoredto a fixed point on the bottom of the chute as is shown at 80. Thesprings 77 serve as a power means for effecting movement of the bucket36 from a horizontal position to a substantially vertical position aswill be understood from the following description of the operation ofthe apparatus.

Assuming the feeder apparatus 16 to be in a material receiving positioni.e., the chute 18 inclined downwardly towards its rear end 30 as shownat the bottom of FIG. 4, the bucket 36 will be in a horizontal positionas shown. When the hydraulic jacks 38 are operated to swing the chute upto the steeplyinclined position, shown at the top in FIG. 4, the chutewill rotate about the shaft 22 which is held stationary by the armmember 70. Because of the sprocket and chain arrangement, the movementof the chute in this manner about the stationary sprockets 50 and 52will cause the sprockets 54 and 56 to rotate in a counterclockwisedirection thereby rotating shaft 32 and maintaining the bucket 36horizontal as the chute 18 moves up.

As the chute reaches the steeply-inclined position, shown at the top ofFIG. 4, a roller cam 84, provided at the discharge end of the chute,will ride over the surface 86 on the structure 78, pushing the lever orstrut 74 outwardly to the dashed-line position. This action will permitarm to move and allow shaft 22 to rotate. The springs 77 which have beenput under tension by the upward movement of the chute 13 and thecounterclockwise movement of the sprocket wheels 54 and 56, willimmediately pull the upper reaches of the sprocket chains to the rightas viewed in FIG. 2, rotating sprockets 54 and 56 and shaft 32 clockwisethereby tipping the bucket 36 to a substantially vertical position asshown at 48 at the top of FIG. 4. The contents of the bucket 36 willfall quickly out of the bucket onto the chute and slide down the chute.As the material reaches the curved discharge end of the chute 18, itsdirection is changed to a more nearly horizontal direction so that thetrajectory of different pieces of the material will distribute it overat least a large area lengthwise of the incinerator.

As the bucket 36 tilts to the vertical position, the sprockets 50, 52and shaft 22 will have of course rotated in a clockwise direction movingarm 70 to the dashed line position shown in FIG. 2. A dash-pot 89 ismounted on the incinerator supports and positioned so as to interceptarm 70 and retard the motion of arm 70 and cushion the impact of thebucket against the rear end ofchute 18.

The arrangement provides a mechanism in which the normally fixedsprocket wheels 5052 are in effect sun gears which are geared tosprocket wheels 54 and 56 as planet gears through the sprocket chainsduring the raising and lowering of the chute with the planet gearsrotating in an opposite rotation to the movement of the chute. Thespring stores energy on the upward swing of the chute, which is releasedwhen the latch is triggered at the upper limit of travel to then rotateboth sets of sprockets in the same direction as the chute moved to reachthe highest position.

In order to control the velocity of the material as it enters theincinerator and therefore the distribution of material over the lengthof the incinerator, the angle of maximum inclination of the chute 18 inthe upper position together with the point at which the bucket 36 willtilt to discharge its contents into the chute can be adjusted andpredetermined. To this end, the roller, cam 84 is mounted on a slidemember 90 which is in turn adjustably secured to a slide base 92provided on one side of the chute at the discharge end. The slide member90 is adjustably secured to the slide base 92 by means of fasteners 94which are received in a slot 96 provided in the slide base 92. Byadjustably mounting the roller cam 84 in this fashion, its initialcontact with the surface 86 on the structure 78 can be selectivelypredetermined; the tilting point of the bucket 36 relative to theinclination of the chute 18 can be ad just'ed, and thus, the velocity ofthe material as it enters the incinerator can be controlled. This may bedesirable to protect the opposite wall of the furnace from impact byheavy low friction combustibles and secure good distribution withhighfriction scrap material.

After the charging of material into incinerator 10, jacks 38 areoperated to lower the chute and bucket to the lower-most position asshown in H0. 4 for the next charge. As chute 18 is lowered, bucket 36will remain in a fixed angular relationship to the chute with thetension in springs 77 acting in opposition to the cantilevered weight ofbucket 36. Since spring tension lessens as the chute is lowered becausesprockets 50 and 52 and 54 and 56 are free turning, the effective momentof the cantilevered bucket weight increases and a point is reached priorto the bottom loading position at which bucket 36 will tilt back to'thehorizontal position. Since arm 70 is positioned in a plane parallel tothe bucket, it will return to its horizontal, latched position againstupper stop bar 76. Lowering of chute 18 immediately movesroller cam 84away'from surface 86, so that a spring 88 pulls strut 74 into its normalposition against a stop 98. Thus arm 70 in reassuming the horizontalposition moved up against inclined surface 100 and roller 72 causingstrut 74 to momentarily swing outward and then back to the verticallatching position against arm 70. When this occurs, sprockets 50 and 52and shaft 22 are locked against rotation whereupon sprockets 54 and 56will rotate clockwise with continued lowering of the chute to maintainthe bucket horizontal.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the trench feeder 16, as described above, isshown in conjunction with a modified form of pit incinerator. Themodified pit incinerator is shown generally at 200 and basicallycomprises a refractory lined pit 202 having a top enclosing structure204. A stack is shown generally at 206 and a row of air nozzles isdiagramatically shown at 208.

The operation of the feeder 16 is the same as described above, however,material rather than being charged into the charging end of incinerator200 through an open top as in the case of the open pit incinerator 10,is charged into the incinerator 200 through an opening 210 provided inthe end wall 212 of the incinerator. The enclosed incinerator 200 isoperated in the same manner as open pit incinerator 10, but with theattendant advantages as outlined previously.

From the foregoingit will be understood that I have'provided a chargingapparatus for the controlled feeding of material into an incineratorwherein the operator can be safely removed from the pit to avoid theintense heat generated in the incinerator. The apparatus can be readilyadapted to incinerator constructions wherein the incinerator isconstructed above the ground or sunken into the ground. In the lattercase, the lower material receiving position will be that now shown asthe intermediate position in FIG. 4. The charging apparatus can beutilized with both open top pit-type incinerators and incineratorshaving a top enclosure and provided with a vent stack.

I claim:

1. Material handling apparatus having a supporting stand and comprising:i i

a. a delivery chute having a rear end and a front discharge end, thedelivery chute being pivotally supported about a fixed pivotal mountingin the supporting stand adjacent its discharge end for movement in avertical arc;

b. a material-receiving bucket pivotally attached to the rear end of thechute for movement in a vertical arc;

c. means operatively connected to the chute for raising and lowering therear end of the chute in a vertical arc; and

d. means actuated by movement of the chute arranged to hold the bucketin a substantially horizontal material retaining position when the chuteis being raised and to move the bucket from its material retainingposition to a material discharge position as the chute reaches apredetermined uppermost limit of movement.

2. Material handling apparatus having a supporting stand and comprising:

a. a delivery chute having a rear end and a front discharge end, thechute being pivotally supported about a fixed pivotal mounting in thesupporting stand at its discharge end for movement in a vertical are;

b. a material-receiving bucket pivotally attached to the rear end of thechute'for movement relatively to the chute in a vertical arc;

c. means for raising and lowering the chute and bucket as a unit betweena lower material-receiving position and a raised discharge position, thechute when in a discharge position being inclined downwardly toward itsdischarge end; and

(1. means actuated by movement of the chute arranged to hold the buckethorizontal when the chute is being raised and lowered and tilt itupwardly to a substantially vertical position as the chute reaches apredetermined uppermost limit of movement, the bucketbeing shaped toretain material therein when it is horizontal but to discharge materialinto the chute as it is tilted relatively to the chute toward a verticalposition.

. A material handling apparatus comprising:

. an elongated chute having a rear end and a front discharge end, thechute being supported adjacent its front end on a first shaft by meansof bearings to permit the chute to rotate about the longitudinal axis ofthe first shaft, the first shaft in turn being supported in bearings topermit rotation of the first shaft about its longitudinal axis;

b. a bucket having a rear end and a front discharge end, the bucketbeing nonrotatably secured to a second shaft that is supported inhearings on the rear end to the chute to permit the second shaft andbucket to rotate as a unit about the longitudinal axis of the secondshaft;

c. power means operatively connected to the chute for effecting movementof bucket and chute in a vertical are as a unit about the longitudinalaxis of the first shaft between a lower material receiving position anda raised material discharge position; and

d. means actuated by movement of the chute and bucket about the axis ofthe first shaft for maintaining the bucket in a horizontal position asthe bucket and chute are being raised and lowered and for rotating thebucket in a vertical arc to a substantially vertical position as thechute reaches a predetermined uppermost limit of movement.

4. A material handling apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said lastnamed means includes at least one sprocket wheel nonrotatably secured toeach of the first and second shafts, a sprocket chain trained around thesprocket wheels and at least one tension spring having opposite endswith one end being connected to the upper reach of the sprocket chainand its opposite and connected to the chute.

5. A material handling apparatus comprising:

a. an .elongated chute having a rear end and a front discharge end, thechute being pivotally supported at its front end, for movement in avertical are between lowered and raised positions;

. a bucket havinga rear end and a front discharge end, the bucket beingpivotally connected to the chute adjacent the rear end of the chute formovement with respect thereto in a vertical are between a horizontalmaterial retaining position and a substantially vertical materialdischarge position;

c. first power means operatively connected to the chute for effectingmovement thereof;

. means operatively connected to the bucket for maintainingthe bucket inhorizontal position as the chute is being raised and lowered;

e. second power means operatively connected to the bucket for effectingtilting thereof to a substantially vertical position as the chutereaches a predetermined uppermost limit of movement;

f. releasable latching means arranged to effectively restrain operationof the second power means such that the bucket will not be tilted untilthe chute reaches its uppermost limit of movement; and

g. means on the chute cooperable with the latching means to release thelatching means for effecting operation of the second power means wherebythe bucket will be tilted to its discharge position to discharge itscontents into the chute.

6. A material handling apparatus as defined in claim wherein the chuteis pivotally supported at its front end on a first shaft by means ofbearings to allow the chute to rotate about the longitudinal axis of thefirst shaft and the first shaft is in turn supported in bearings toallow rotation of the first shaft about its longitudinal axis, thebucket being nonrotatably secured to a second shaft that is supported onthe rear end of the chute in bearings to allow the second shaft andbucket to rotate as a unit about the longitudinal axis of the secondshaft.

7. A material handling apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the meansoperatively connected to the bucket for maintaining the bucket in ahorizontal position as the chute is being raised and lowered includes:

a. a air of first sprocket wheels each of which is fixed on the oppositeends of the first shaft;

b. a pair of second sprocket wheels each of which is fixed on theopposite ends of the second shaft; and

c. a pair of sprocket chains each of which is trained around therespective first and second sprocket wheels on each end of the shafts.

8. A material handling apparatus 'as defined in claim 7 wherein thereleasable latching means comprises a radially extending arm membernonrotatably secured to the first shaft and a strut pivotally supportedadjacent the front end of the chute to swing to and away from a positionblocking movement of the arm member.

9. A material handling apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein thesecond power means comprises a plurality of tension springs each springbeing connected at one end to the upper reach of a sprocket chain and atits opposite end to the chute.

10. A material handling apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein themeans on the chute cooperable with the latching means comprises a rollersecured to the forward end of the chute which is engageable with thestrut as the chute reaches its uppermost limit of movement to move thestrut away from its blocking position thereby allowing the first shaftto rotate.

11. Material handling apparatus comprising:

a. an elongated chute;

b. a first rotatable shaft on which the forward end of the chute isrotatably mounted for movement of the chute about said shaft in avertical are between a low position and a position of maximum elevation;

c. a second shaft rotatably supported on the chute adjacent its rearend;

d. a bucket having its forward end overlapping said chute and secured tosaid second shaft for rotation therewith;

e. means for raising and lowering said chute in a vertical arc about thefirst shaft; and

f. means operatively connecting said two shafts arranged to maintain thebucket horizontal as the angle of inclination of the chute changes andeffecting tilting movement of the bucket relatively to the chute to anangle where material in the bucket is discharged into the chute onlyafter the chute is raised to a predetermined angle and restoring thebucket to a horizontal position when the chute is lowered. 1

12. A material handling apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein saidlast named means comprises a gearing connecting the first and secondshafts for driving the second shaft when the second shaft is carried inan arc about the first shaft by the raising and lowering movement of thechute and in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the chuteabout the first shaft, spring means cooperating with the gearing whichis stressed by such rotation of the second shaft, and trigger meansactuated by movement of the chute to its maximum elevation for releasingsaid first shaft for rotation whereby said spring means is effective tothen rotate both shafts in the direction in which the chute had rotatedabout the first shaft in moving to said maximum elevation.

